Grand Coalition: Five solid years of turbulence

Glance Facts
One of the major wars was the supremacy battles between the Vice-President and Prime Minister over who was junior, not to mention the appointment of constitutional office holders

The Swearing-in of President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto on Tuesday mark the end of the 2008 National Accord, which ushered in the Grand Coalition Government.

The regime came into force following a power-sharing agreement between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on February 28, 2008, under the National Accord and Reconciliation Act that ended the post-election violence.
The Government was hurriedly put up to stop the violence that rocked the country following the botched 2007 election.
Its formation was the culmination of the Serena talks bringing together representatives of PNU, ODM and the Committee of Eminent Persons under the umbrella of Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee.

The committee was chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan with the help of former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel.
The others were Ruto, ministers Moses Wetangula, James Orengo, Mutula Kilonzo, Sally Kosgey, Sam Ongeri, Musalia Mudavadi and Martha Karua.

The committee came up with the position of PM through a power sharing that saw Raila named Prime Minister. The PM’s role was to supervise and coordinate functions of Government.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo says the Grand Coalition achieved a lot in five years. The country had been agitating for a new Constitution for more than two decades, and the Coalition Government delivered it. It also saw creation of new positions that will seek to stabilise the country,” said Mutula.

Quit order
Recently, there was debate about dissolution of the coalition government following an order by President Kibaki that ministers elected into other positions resign.

This triggered a political battle with some ministers vowing not to leave office until the new President is sworn-in. According to the law, the Government would have been dissolved if one of the coalition members agreed to that in writing.